"Jaden, what on earth is this written exam score?!"
Akasha rubbed her temples, clearly at a loss for how to even respond.
Completely clueless about the situation, Jaden scratched his head awkwardly and muttered, "I thought I did pretty well though… how did this happen?"
Looking exasperated, Hoshino asked in disbelief, "Do you even realize what a score of 4 means?"
"Hehe… what does it mean, Sensei?"
Afraid of being scolded, Jaden laughed nervously and took a small step back.
"I swear, even if I stepped on the answer sheet and fed it into the scanner, I'd still get at least double digits!"
Hoshino vaguely recalled that seven years ago, she'd once dueled a Jaden from ten years in the future — from another timeline. And even then, he had been wearing the Slifer Red uniform. In other words, no matter the world line, Jaden Yuki was destined to end up in Red Dorm.
"As expected of you, Jaden — a true duelist through and through. Even your exam score stops perfectly right before the passing mark. Truly fate itself!"
This time, Minazuki patted Jaden on the shoulder with mock admiration. "As your fellow Red Dorm roommate, I'll be counting on you from now on~"
"You sound way too happy about this, Minazuki!"
After finishing reviewing all the freshmen's grades, Professor Hakutaku closed the gradebook and announced,
"Alright, all new students, please gather your luggage and report to your assigned dorms to unpack and settle in. Each dorm will hold a welcome party tonight — eat as much as you like and enjoy yourselves. That's all, dismissed!"
"Let's go, Alexis. Don't bother with these two idiots," Akasha sighed, grabbing the pale wrist of her fellow Blue Dorm student, Alexis Rhodes.
"Ah… okay…"
The atmosphere had become unbearably awkward after Jaden's score was announced, leaving Alexis unable to get a word in. She could only let Akasha drag her away.
Waving toward Hoshino, Akasha called out, "Then I'll be heading back first, Hoshino-nee! I might not make it to the welcome party tonight, but I'll drop by your place sometime, okay~?"
"Huh? Senpai doesn't live in the dorms?" Alexis asked curiously.
"That's right~ I don't live with you guys."
Though Hoshino was tempted to boast about her special privileges as a senior and let these Blue Dorm newbies — who thought their dorm was top-tier — experience the real hierarchy of the academy…
…she decided against it. As a mature adult, she preferred not to engage in childish behavior that might spark jealousy or resentment.
Alexis mentally took note of the information. "I see… so upperclassmen live separately from us. I learned something new today."
Back at their respective dorms, after a bit of unpacking, the students prepared for their dorm-specific welcome parties that evening.
Ra Yellow Dorm —
As the dorm for top first-year students, its welcome party was lively and extravagant. Long European-style banquet tables were covered with all kinds of luxurious and beautifully plated dishes.
Obelisk Blue Dorm —
The Blue Dorm, meanwhile, hosted its party in a refined buffet style, radiating the elegant air of a noble's ball.
Since most of Blue Dorm's students were second-years promoted from Ra Yellow, the first-years admitted directly naturally became the center of attention.
"I don't see Senpai anywhere. Could she be a third-year?"
After politely turning down several boys who tried to talk to her, Alexis scanned the crowd. Yet she couldn't find the person she was hoping to see, leaving her oddly disappointed.
"Wait, what am I even thinking? Why do I care so much about her? We only met today!"
Even as she shook her head to clear her thoughts, Alexis couldn't quite hide the faint blush that crept across her flawless cheeks.
Slifer Red Dorm —
"…What the heck is this?"
Staring at a bowl of plain rice, a piece of salted fish, and a small dish of pickled radish, Minazuki let out a soul-deep groan.
"Every other dorm gets a fancy feast, and this is our meal? So this is what dorm hierarchy looks like, huh?"
"And the dorm manager isn't even human…"
The group turned toward the "manager's desk," where a fat cat lay sprawled lazily. At that moment, the new Red students could already feel despair creeping in about their future dorm life.
"What's the big deal? I think it tastes great!"
Jaden was devouring his food with such enthusiasm that even pickled radish over rice seemed like gourmet cuisine.
"Jaden-aniki…" muttered a thin boy with glasses sitting beside him, utterly perplexed.
"Munch munch—Come on, Syrus, you eat too! It's delicious!"
Syrus Truesdale — Jaden and Minazuki's roommate.
Unlike his older brother, the brilliant Zane Truesdale, one of Duel Academy's top duelists, Syrus had barely scraped through the entrance exams, landing himself in Slifer Red.
Completely awed when Jaden defeated Professor Crowler, Syrus started calling him "Jaden-aniki" — partly out of admiration, partly from his own inferiority complex toward his brother.
"Yeah! No point sulking. Let's eat!"
Catching Jaden's infectious energy, Minazuki picked up his chopsticks too. "You can't duel on an empty stomach! A real duelist gives his all, even when eating!"
And so, the first day at Duel Academy came to an end — some celebrating, others despairing.
Day Two —
The first class of the semester was taught by Professor Crowler, covering fundamental Duel Monsters knowledge. Though his looks left something to be desired, his teaching ability lived up to his title.
"Now then, Alexis, would you please explain the 'Attack Replay' mechanic, which was introduced only a few years ago?"
Since it was the first major lecture, all first-year students were gathered in a massive tiered classroom.
Standing up confidently, Alexis replied fluently,
"Attack Replay is a new rule introduced with the latest generation of Duel Disks. When a player declares an attack, but the number or type of monsters on the opponent's field changes due to a card effect, the Attack Replay mechanic activates."
Crowler nodded in approval, then gestured toward Akasha, who sat beside her.
"Then, Kashar, please continue — what happens once Attack Replay is triggered?"
"Yes, sir~" Akasha rose gracefully to answer.
"After an Attack Replay is triggered, the player can choose to select a new attack target or cancel the attack altogether. However, if they cancel, that monster cannot attack again for the rest of the Battle Phase."
"Excellent answer. As expected from an Obelisk Blue student," Crowler nodded approvingly, then scanned the classroom—
—his sharp eyes landing on Minazuki, who was secretly playing on his phone in the middle of class.
"Then, let's have Minazuki answer the next question…"
"Eh? …Here!"
Startled by Professor Crowler's sudden call, Minazuki was so shocked that he didn't even have time to care about the six he had just rolled in his gacha pull. He quickly put down his phone and stood up.
"'Here'? What kind of answer is that?" Crowler scowled in disgust. "Tell me — for monsters above Level 8, how many tributes are required for a Tribute Summon?"
Minazuki began counting on his fingers. "Monsters of Levels 5 or 6 need one tribute, and 7–8 need two tributes… so for monsters above Level 8, it must be three tributes, right?"
"Ahahahaha~!"
The classroom immediately erupted in laughter at his answer.
"As expected of a Red student — even the most basic questions get botched."
Professor Crowler shook his head in deep disappointment.
"Remember this! Unless it's one of the legendary God Cards — like the Egyptian Gods owned by Yugi Muto or the Evil Gods wielded by the Duel King — or a monster with special summoning conditions, no matter if it's Level 9 or 12, it only ever requires two tributes!"
Minazuki suddenly understood. "Oh, so that's how it is! But it's fine, my deck doesn't even have any monsters above Level 8 anyway. It's a pure low-level deck!"
"Who asked about your deck?!" Crowler roared, furious. "This is exactly why you Slifer Red underachievers are hopeless! You don't even understand the theory, so what are you doing at Duel Academy?!"
Resting his chin on his hand, Jaden spoke lazily, "Theory and practice aren't the same, are they? I mean, even as a Slifer Red 'underachiever,' didn't I beat you instantly during the entrance exam, Professor Crowler?"
"You—!!"
Crowler's face turned crimson, veins bulging on his forehead. "That entrance test doesn't count as a real loss…! How can that even be called an instant kill?!"
He then launched into a rambling lecture about "staying humble" and "knowing when to go easy," which only made the class burst into laughter again. The entire room filled with cheerful, carefree energy.
Later, in the Faculty Office—
"Damn that Jaden Yuki! A worthless Red student, yet he dares to mock me!"
Grumbling and fuming, Crowler scribbled furiously on a sheet of paper — plotting something decidedly shady.
"With this plan… I'll drive that delinquent straight into the pit of expulsion!"
Admiring his own handiwork, a devious smile spread across his pot-shaped face as he reread the letter he had written:
"From the moment I first saw you, I felt something special.
I can't hold back these feelings any longer — I must tell you in person.
Please meet me tonight at 10 o'clock, behind the Obelisk Blue girls' dormitory.
I'll be waiting there for you.
— Alexis Rhodes."
"Heh heh heh… and the back of the girls' dorm is actually the bathhouse! Once that fool shows up, I'll just snap a few pictures of him 'peeping' on the girls' baths… heeheehee!"
He then applied lipstick, stamped a kiss mark on the envelope, and sprayed it with sweet perfume — the finishing touches to his sinister plan.
…But wait — why did this man's office even have perfume and lipstick to begin with?
"Perfect! Now all that's left is…"
Taking advantage of gym period, Crowler sneaked into Jaden's classroom and slipped the "love letter" into the messy pile of books inside Jaden's desk.
After Class—
"Hurry up! If you don't move it, I'll go hang out with Hoshino-nee by myself!"
Akasha stood with her hands on her hips, tapping her foot impatiently.
"Wait—wait, I'm coming!"
Completely disorganized, Jaden shoved all his books into his bag without even looking, accidentally including the fake "love letter" that Crowler had planted.
"Let's go, Akasha! The campus shuttle runs every ten minutes — no need to rush~"
Because yesterday had been packed with entrance exams and dorm welcome parties, they hadn't had a chance to visit.
So today, the two had agreed to drop by Hoshino's luxurious seaside villa after school — to see how the Academy's "Honorary Headmistress" lived.
The Duel Academy shuttle line made it easy to reach all the island's facilities — shops, parks, beaches, and more — all developed over the years to make student life lively and convenient.
After about an hour-long bus ride, Akasha and Jaden finally arrived at the gates of Hoshino's stunning ocean-view mansion.
Jaden looked up in awe. "Whoa… what a huge villa! You could fit, like, ten people in there! Compared to the Slifer Red dorm, this is heaven and hell!"
Akasha nodded in agreement. "I thought the Obelisk Blue dorms were already luxurious, but it looks like I underestimated the Kaiba family's wealth. Still… she really lives in a place this big all by herself?"
But before her question could even settle, two streaks — one red and one green — burst through the doorway and crashed straight into Jaden.
"You jerk! Give me back that last bun right now!"
"Bleh! Nope! No way! You sickly swordswoman, you already ate a whole box by yourself! Who do you think you are, King Arthur?"
The two — Okita and Nobunaga — dashed past at impossible speed, chasing each other down the street until they vanished from sight.
Akasha smiled wryly. "So it was Okita and Nobu again, huh? Those two really went and materialized themselves without permission."
"Ow ow ow… that hurt… ugh, my bag!"
Flattened by the collision, Jaden sat on the ground rubbing his backside while gathering up the books scattered all over.
"Huh? What's this letter? It's not mine…"
That's when he finally noticed the fake letter Crowler had planted.
"Maybe it's Hoshino-nee's?" Akasha pointed toward the mailbox by the gate. "Could've been blown out by the wind when Okita and Nobu ran past."
"Yeah, that makes sense." Jaden nodded thoughtfully. Since the letter wasn't his or Akasha's, it could only belong to Hoshino.
"I'll just put it back in her mailbox then. But man, in this day and age, who still writes actual letters?"